6 Plumbing Conditions to Check For When Moving Into a New House

Nothing can be more daunting and exciting than finally finding and moving into the Fontana home of your dreams. But while there are more than a thousand things you need to take care of before the big move, did you know that you seriously need to prioritize having a plumbing inspection?

Among the worst things that can happen after a week or a month of settling into your new house is to find out that it is plagued with water leaks, faulty pipes, clogged drains, and more. 

Checking Your Home’s Pl0umbing Before Making The Big Move

It’s important that you seek the help of an expert plumber in Fontana who can help you identify and repair potential plumbing issues before they wreak havoc and lead to massive damage in the long run. This way, you won’t have to worry about wasting time and energy on fixing blockages and problems that could have easily been avoided. 

Here’s a comprehensive checklist of plumbing features and conditions to watch out for in your new home. Plus, we’ll tell you how an experienced plumber in Fontana, CA, can help you spot them so you can get the most value out of your biggest investment. 

• Water Quality, Supply, and Pressure

Locate your new home’s main water shutoff valve and make sure that it is working properly. This is important especially in future plumbing emergencies when you need to isolate the water supply to the fixture that is leaking.

Turn on multiple faucets, showers, and other fixtures to assess if there is good flow and adequate water pressure. An experienced plumber can help you inspect the pipe lines to determine if they are the correct size. He or she can also conduct several pressure tests to gauge the performance of the pipes. 

Find out if there is any hidden leak on your property by evaluating your water meter. If you notice that the meter is still turning even if you’ve turned off all faucets and fixtures, then that means there’s a leak somewhere in the plumbing system.

Evaluate the water quality in your new home and check for any lead and other contaminants in drinking and tap water to avoid any serious and costly health hazards.  

• Water Heater Systems

It’s crucial to ask how the water heaters are holding up in your new home. Most water heaters generally last for about 10 years. Find out the age of the heater and the last time it was professionally serviced. If it is too old, then it’s best to go for a replacement.

Have a pro plumber do a physical inspection to check for signs of corrosion or rust on any part of the tank, the presence of leaks at the inlet or outlet valves, strange noises when you switch the tank on, and muddy or sandy water that comes out of the faucet.

A licensed plumber can also help you determine whether the size of the heater is sufficient enough to meet you and your family’s hot water needs. It’s also crucial to check the location of the water heater and determine if it can cause damage to your home once it leaks. 

• Clogged or Damaged Toilets

Flush each toilet in every bathroom to see if they are functioning properly. Assess whether there is a weak flush, if there are any leaks, and if the water runs for too long. If the toilet does not drain all of the water, this could be an indication that some of the drains are clogged.

Look around the underside of the tank and the toilet base for any leaks. Any discolored areas or stains on the tank, toilet, or around the base, plus warped flooring, are all signs of leakage.

Don’t hesitate to seek the help of professional residential or commercial plumbing repair services to fix any leaks and poor drainage systems and prevent any costly damage. 

• Faucets, Sinks, and Drains

Make sure to check all faucets and sinks when you are looking around your new house. Turn on each faucet and check if there are any leaks while the water is running. Check for leaks beneath and around the faucet and below the sink. It’s also important to find out if the water drains easily from each sink. 

While leaky faucets and clogged drains can be easily resolved, they can also be signs of bigger plumbing problems down the road. Let a professional plumber in Fontana handle the thorough cleaning of all drains in your new property. An expert plumber can also guide you through the sources of the leaks and clogs and how they can be fixed. 

• Sewage Drain Pipes

The sewage system is among the features that a new homeowner tends to overlook before making that big purchase. But sewer line inspections should be a priority in your house inspection checklist. Just because the water drains normally and the toilet flushes properly, does not mean that there aren’t any potential issues with service lines.

A serious plumbing backup could happen right after you move into your newly purchased home and it could lead to extremely expensive sewer repairs. This would have been avoided with a thorough video sewer line inspection by a licensed plumber.

Getting a camera for checking your water pipes allows an experienced plumber to find out if there are any breaks, leaks, corrosion, or root intrusions in your line that would otherwise go unnoticed. These can cause serious water damage to your home’s foundation. If the plumber finds that there are old lead pipes or galvanized pipes, then it is best to have them replaced.

• Septic Tank

If your new home has a septic tank, you would want a professional plumber to inspect it for you and look out for any signs of abrasive cleaners, grease, toilet papers, and the like. Take the time to gather documents and ask important questions about how often the system has been pumped, when it was last emptied, and if there were any repairs. 

Let your plumber help you verify how full the tank is and give you an idea of when it will need to be emptied so you won’t have to worry about dealing with an overflowing septic tank.

Keeping Your Plumbing in Top Shape

Moving into a new home is incredibly exciting but you should never be too complacent when it comes to checking if the plumbing system and features are in tip-top shape. 

Getting ahead of home plumbing issues will not only save you from serious and costly repairs but will also ensure that your new home is perfectly safe for you and your family. 

Our plumbers are trained to check every possible problem and give you advice on the next best steps to take. Call Bobby Blue Plumbing right away if you want highly trained professionals to perform a full house plumbing inspection before your big move.